---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-23
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-23
lang: en
title: Constructing abilities and magic
summary: >-
  Players choose and combine components to create abilities with the desired
  form, effect and trigger sequence.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-23/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-23.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-23.md
aliases:
  - Constructing abilities and spells
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-5e4692da8200b105
sources:
  - id: source-5e4692da8200b105
    title: Magicraft
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2103140/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-23
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-23'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Constructing abilities and spells
    description: >-
      Players choose and combine components to create abilities with the desired
      form, effect and trigger sequence.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/systems-magicraft-01.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Magicraft
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2103140/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/2103140/ss_b92321c65c661a08710636d152807c1c62b89d92.1920x1080.jpg?t=1790072393
      credit: Wave Games / bilibili
      rights: © Wave Games / bilibili. All rights reserved.
      caption: Choosing spells for a Magicraft build
      alt: Choosing spells for a Magicraft build
      markers:
        - x: 61
          'y': 56
          label: Supernova’s description defines its effect and charging conditions
    tips:
      - Show how changing a component affects the resulting action.
    examples:
      - title: Magicraft
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2103140/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/roguelike
---
# Constructing abilities and magic

id: roguelike--family-23
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-23
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-23/

Players choose and combine components to create abilities with the desired form, effect and trigger sequence.

## At a glance

![Choosing spells for a Magicraft build](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/systems-magicraft-01.webp)

[Magicraft](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2103140/) · © Wave Games / bilibili. All rights reserved.

1. Supernova’s description defines its effect and charging conditions

- Show how changing a component affects the resulting action.

- [Magicraft](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2103140/)

## How it works

Components, forms and combination rules allow you to assemble your own abilities and spells.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-23-variants"></a>

- Assembling a spell from individual components <a id="variant-roguelike-23-01"></a>
- Select delivery form: beam, projectile, area, contact <a id="variant-roguelike-23-02"></a>
- Adding Modifiers to a Spell <a id="variant-roguelike-23-03"></a>
- Setting the execution order of components <a id="variant-roguelike-23-04"></a>
- A spell that triggers another spell <a id="variant-roguelike-23-05"></a>
- Triggered by timer, target hit or death <a id="variant-roguelike-23-06"></a>
- Magic Media Capacity Limit <a id="variant-roguelike-23-07"></a>
- Balance of cost, speed and power <a id="variant-roguelike-23-08"></a>
- Consumable and infinite spells <a id="variant-roguelike-23-09"></a>
- Unstable magic and random side effects <a id="variant-roguelike-23-10"></a>
- The danger of the player's own spells <a id="variant-roguelike-23-11"></a>
- Programmable action sequences <a id="variant-roguelike-23-12"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Magicraft](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2103140/) (id: source-5e4692da8200b105)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors